Apparatus for raising liquids.



No. 658,94l. Patented Oct. 2, I900.

J. CLAYTON.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING LIQUIDS.

(Application filed Sept. 231 1898.)

2 Sheatr-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Ill

Winarwew W X W W "In: uonms wzfzns co., FHOTOLITHOA WASHINGTON, 01c

No. 658,941, Patented on. 2, I900.

- I .1. 'CLAYTON.

APPARATUS FOR'RAISING LIQUIDS.

(Application filed Sept. 98, 1898.)

2 snooty-Sheet 2.

XIQModel.)

I bodying my invention.

JAMES CLAYTON, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR FiAlSlNG LIQUIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Batent No. 658,941, dated October 2, 1900.

1 Application filed September 23, 1898. serial No. 691,687. lNo model.)

To all whom it Ina/y concern.

Be it known that I, JAMns CLAYTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the city of New York; and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Raising Liquids, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to apparatus such as are variously known as pneumatic waterlifts and compressed-air pumps for raising water by the direct pressure upon it of air or gas having a pressure greater than that of the atmosphere.

Figure 1 in the drawings represents an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus em- Fig. 2 is a plan of the pressure-tank and of the pipes and valves for the induction of the compressed air or gas thereinto andthe eduction of said air and of' the liquid therefrom, the pipes being shown partly in section. Figs. 3 and 4. represent elevations, partly in section, of parts ofthe pressure-tank and of the reservoir or well in which it is placed and of certain of the pipes and valves and of the valve-operating mechanism, showing the latter mechanism in two positions. views of portions of the air-pipes and of a three-way valve therein, showing the latter in diiferent positions. I

Similar letters of reference designate cor-- responding parts in all the figures.

A designates a well, reservoir, or any source wherein the water or liquid to be elevated is contained and in which is placed the closed pressure-tank B, which receives therefrom the water to be elevated and which receives from an air-reservoir O the compressed air or gas by the pressure of which the said water or liquid is elevated, said air or gas being supplied by any suitable means, as by a compressor D, the-delivery-pipe D of which connects with the said reservoir 0. inafter speak of said liquid as water and of said air or gas as air.

The pressure-tank is furnished at or near its bottom with inlet-valves aof any suitable kind which will open automatically when the pressure in said tank is less than that due to the column in the well or reservoir A and -.greater than that of said column.

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional I will herewill close when the pressure in said tank is The said tank is connected at its top with the air-reservoir O by a pipe E, through which, under the control of a three-way cock F, as will be hereinafter described, air is supplied from said reservoir to said-tank for expelling the Water from the latter through the dischargeconduit G, the inlet of which is at 1) near the point at which the Water is to be delivered. The said pipe E has a branch E, which connects with the inlet of the compressor and which constitutes the suction-pipe thereof and which is controlled by the valve F, hereinbefore mentioned, which is at the branching of the two pipes. In thesuct-ion-pipe E there is an opening or branch E for communication with the atmosphere. At the mouth of this opening or branch there is an ordinary check-valve E arranged to open inwardly and close outwardly, as will be hereinafter described.

By the three-way cock at the branching of the pipe E from E communication may be made directly through the pipe E from the air-reservoir O to the pressure-tank B, as shown in Fig. 5, while communication between said pipe and the suction-pipe E of the compressor is closed, or communication may be made, as shown in Fig. 6, through said pipev E between the tank B and the suctionpipe E of the compressor while communication between the air-reservoir and pressuretank is closed. Said cockis operated by mechanism actuated by a float I in the pressuretank, said mechanism consisting of a longitudinally-rnoving rod J,which passes through astuffing-box c in the top of the tank, and connections between said rod and the arm j on the valve-spindle Is. Said rod works in a guide d on the bottom of the tank and a guide d, attached to the pipe E, and the said float is capable of sliding freely on it between two collars e e thereon. The said rod is connected by short links f with theforked lower arm of an elbow-lever K, which works on an independent fixed fulcrum it above the tank and which is also connected by rods '6 with a forked arm j on the valve-spindle k. The upper arm of said elbow-lever has attached to it a tumbler-box Z, the bottom of which bottom of the tank and which runs to any rolls to one or the other end of said box as the upper arm of the lever in its movement passes a vertical position and causes the reversal of the inclination of the bottom of said box.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: First supposing the tank B to be empty and the float I on the collar e of the valve-rod J, as shown in Fig. 1, holding said collar down on the guide (1, the said rod then by its connectionsfand t with the valve F' holds the latter in the position indicated in Fig. 6, shutting oif the air-reservoir C from the tank and leaving the suction-pipe E open to the tank. Water now enters the tank through the valves a, and as it rises therein, expelling the air therefrom through the pipes E and E to the inlet of the compressor, it raises the float. When the tank becomes nearly full of water, the float reaching the collar 9' pushes up the valve-rod, which then, acting through the connections f i, begins to move the valve slowly toward the position shown in Fig. 5, at the same time moving the tumbler-lever K until it passes its line of culmination and the bottom of the tumbler-box passes the horizontal position and assumes the slightest inclination, when the weight m quickly runs down said box and throws the lever over tothe position shownin Fig. 4, producing very suddenly the completion of the movement of the valve to cut oflf communication between the tank and the suction-pipe of the compressor and open communication between the air-reservoir and the tank,which then begins to discharge its water through the conduit G. The float then descending and coming on the collar e of the valve-rod operates as a weight and pulls down the rod, which then begins to move the valve slowly toward the position shown in Fig. 6, at the same time moving the tumbler-lever until the box Z passes its point of culmination and reverses the inclination of the bottom of the tumbler-box, when the weight rapidly produces the further movement of the lever to the position shown in Fig. 3 and throws the valve quickly to the position shown in Fig. 6, thus opening communication between the tank and the suctionpipe of the compressor and permitting the dis charge of the air from the tank into the compressor.

It will be obvious that by the connection of the suction-pipe of the air-compressor with the pressure-tank, as described, whereby the air which has done its work and which may yet have a pressure greater than that of the atmosphere is returned to the compressor instead of being allowed to escape to the atmosphere, a very considerable economy of power may be effected. It is, however, possible that with such connection there may be by reason of leakage or other cause a deficient supply of air to the compressor, and it is to make up any such deficiency that I provide in the soconnected suction-pipe the opening E with the check-valve E", which opens to permit air from the surrounding atmosphere to enter to supply any deficiency, but closes to prevent any waste of air at a pressure above that of the atmosphere.

The valve-operating mechanism herein described might be used in an apparatusin other respects like that described, but in which the pipe E for the escape of the spent air from the pressure-tank might have no connection with the compressor, but which would permit the escape of said air to the atmosphere.

What I claim as my invention is In an apparatus for raisingliquids, the combination of a pressure-tank provided with valves for controlling the entrance of liquid thereinto and with a liquid-discharge conduit, a reservoir for compressed air or gas, a pipe between said reservoir and tank for the passage of the compressed air or gas from said reservoir to said tank, a compressor for supplying the compressed air or gas to said tank,.

a pipe branching from the first-mentioned pipe and constituting the suction-pipe of the compressor for returning to the compressor the spent air or gas from the tank, a threeway cock at the branching of said pipes, an arm on the spindle of said cook, a float in the pressure-tank, a rod actuated by said float, a tumbler-lever and an independent fixed fulcrum therefor, connections between said tumbler-lever and rod and between said lever and the arm on the cock-spindle, an inlet from the atmosphere to said suction-pipe and an outwardly-closing check-valve at said outlet,

all substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 20th day of September, 1898.

JAMES CLAYTON.

Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, GEORGE BARRY, Jr. 

